Professor Hugh Thomas in an interview with Shenzhen Daily journalists. Lin Jianping

Since joining The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) in 2015, Hugh Thomas has witnessed the significant development of both the university and Shenzhen over the years, observing how they have mutually enhanced each other.

Currently, Thomas serves as an associate professor at the School of Management and Economics at CUHK-Shenzhen. With a multidisciplinary background in history, the Chinese language, finance, and international business, he continuously explores the dual paths of being a scholar and a practitioner.

In 1980, he participated in founding China’s first business school in Dalian, the National Center for Industrial Science and Technology Management at Dalian, and later worked in banking and consulting in Hong Kong for seven years. However, an academic at heart, Thomas returned to academia, becoming a scholar once more.

He was tenured at The Chinese University of Hong Kong from 2003 to 2013 and has been teaching at CUHK-Shenzhen since 2015.

A journey with Shenzhen

Thomas first visited Shenzhen in 1976, though at the time, he didn’t realize he was there.

“I took the train from Hong Kong, got off, walked across a bridge, and then boarded another train. I didn’t even know that I was in Shenzhen,” he recalled.

A building at the campus of CUHK-Shenzhen. Lin Jianping

Years later, when invited to teach a finance course at CUHK-Shenzhen, Thomas eagerly accepted.

“I had been observing Shenzhen’s development since the time I didn’t know it existed,” he said.

While excited to join the new university, Thomas did not expect the rapid pace of its growth.

“Initially, there weren’t enough qualified people interested in teaching the introductory corporate finance course. Now, our finance faculty is exceptional,” he noted.

Professor Hugh Thomas (1st R) chats with students while strolling at the campus.

As one of the founding fellows of Shaw College, Thomas also left a personal mark on the institution. He shared that he had influenced the wording of the college’s motto.

The original translation was “virtue and excellence,” but Thomas suggested a revision to inspire students to strive toward these values. The updated version — “In the pursuit of virtue and excellence” — captures what he believes is the essence of CUHK-Shenzhen. “This small contribution remains one of my most meaningful moments here,” he reflected.

Mutual development

Thomas has witnessed Shenzhen’s rapid transformation from a fishing village into a leading industrial economy. He attributes this growth to the local government’s strong emphasis on research and education.

Professor Hugh Thomas (1st R) chats with students at the campus.

“The recognition of this necessity is greater than in any other city governments I can think of worldwide. Shenzhen recognizes the need for a first-class university to become part of the global community of scholars. And CUHK-Shenzhen is achieving that goal,” he remarked.

Thomas also praised the government’s support for integrating global education models, which has accelerated CUHK-Shenzhen’s development.

Professor Hugh Thomas in an interview with Shenzhen Daily journalists. Lin Jianping

He views Shenzhen as a diverse and international city, shaped by people from across China. “The city was opened as the window to the world and the world to China in the late 1970s, and it has always maintained that perspective,” he noted.

Regarding CUHK-Shenzhen’s efforts to cultivate global talent, Thomas emphasized the close alignment between the university’s mission and the city’s identity as a migrant hub.

“Chinese students are international in outlook because they are international by choice. They come from all over the country to Shenzhen, which is the most international city in China. This differs slightly from CUHK students, who were born in a global city. Those at CUHK-Shenzhen consciously choose to develop a global perspective,” he explained.

Shenzhen characteristics

The first word Thomas uses to describe Shenzhen is “open.”

“I believe the people of Shenzhen are very open. Openness is a defining characteristic of the city and bodes well for its future because I think being open to new ideas and new cultures allows you to be more creative and allows you to take opportunities when they arise,” Thomas noted.

While optimism is the second characteristic he associates with the city. “People in Shenzhen have a strong belief that things are improving and that they can play a role in this progress. Their actions and efforts can lead to a better life,” he remarked.

“The third characteristic would be speed. The pace of change in Shenzhen is unparalleled; no other city in the world has experienced such rapid development in history,” Thomas said, adding that “Shenzhen provides incomparable opportunities. It’s open. It’s optimistic. It’s fast. As long as Shenzhen continues to provide those opportunities, then people will come here.”

Source / Shenzhen Daily

Editor / Song Yingwen